Ten families from Co Down have been moved from their homes following a fire which destroyed a domestic garage.

Last night a 200-metre exclusion zone was set up around the building on the Donaghadee Road in Millisle for safety reasons after two oxy-acetylene cylinders were discovered in the garage.

The evacuated families were given shelter in a local community centre.

Stephen Boyd, assistant group commander for Bangor, said five fire appliances and some 25 firefighters from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service were tasked with bringing the fire under control.

“There was a large domestic garage destroyed by fire. We are not treating the fire as suspicious — it was started accidentally,” he said.

“The road will be closed until 8pm on Wednesday night and we have to wait for the oxy-acetylene cylinders to cool down before they are safely removed.”

Motorists are being advised to avoid the area and take alternative routes.